I thought I'd share this poem, penned by a pilot and whose sentiment is shared by every heavenward traveler I've known that expresses their passion and love for flight:

HIGH FLIGHT

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

This poem was written by a young American, John Gillespie Magee, Jr., who flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force in England at the Start of WW II. He was killed shohrtly after he composed "High Flight."

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.

Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand, and touched the face of God.